Chapter 2 - The Glass FortressBypassing the security guard at the front desk of Marina View required quick thinking and a sharp tongue. Claire adjusted her blazer, smoothed down her hair, and marched into the opulent marble lobby as if she owned the building.
When the young receptionist looked up, Claire flashed a confident, professional smile.
"Hi there. I'm here visiting Suite 1402," Claire said smoothly, dropping Vanessa Cole's name as if it were an old habit. "Dr. Cole is expecting me regarding a private archive cataloging."
The receptionist blinked, checking her digital tablet. "Ah, yes. Dr. Cole's residence. You must be Ms. Bennett. She left instructions that you could head straight up to the penthouse level. Elevator B is just to your left."
Claire swallowed hard. Vanessa lives here? No—Mark owns access here. Or did he buy it with my loan money?
She stepped into the private elevator, watching the digital floor numbers climb rapidly: 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. When the doors slid open, she stepped out onto a plush, sound-damped hallway lined with abstract art. Suite 1402 sat at the very end of the corridor.
As she approached the double mahogany doors, the faint sound of laughter drifted out into the hallway.
It was a woman’s laugh—light, melodic, and utterly relaxed. Then came a deep, rich chuckle that made Claire’s stomach drop.
Mark.
He didn't sound like a man suffering from chronic neurological pain or dizzy spells. He sounded alive, vibrant, and deeply happy.
Claire raised her hand and pressed her finger hard against the doorbell.
Inside, the laughter abruptly stopped. Heavy footsteps approached the door, followed by the turning of a deadbolt. The door swung open, revealing Mark wearing his navy blazer, looking refreshed, casual, and completely unprepared for the ghost standing in the hallway.
May you like
Mark's jaw hit the floor. The color drained entirely from his face, leaving him a sickening shade of grey.
"C-Claire?" he stammered, grabbing the doorframe for balance. "What... what are you doing here?"
